Actress Shelley Fabares, known for 'The Donna Reed Show' and 'Coach', dies at 82

Shelley Fabares, who gained fame as Mary Stone on the 1958-1966 sitcom "The Donna Reed Show" and later as Christine Armstrong on the series "Coach," died Saturday in Los Angeles following a short illness, her family announced. She was 82. Survivors include her husband, actor Mike Farrell, whom she married in 1984, and her stepchildren Erin and Michael. > "To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort," the family statement read. > "She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her."

Fabares began her career as a child model and appeared on early television specials, including a 1955 NBC adaptation of "Our Town" with Frank Sinatra. She rose to national prominence when her recording of "Johnny Angel" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962, a song she first performed on an episode of "The Donna Reed Show." The actress later starred in three Elvis Presley films—"Girl Happy," "Spinout" and "Clambake"—and earned critical notice for her role as the wife of Brian Piccolo in the 1971 TV movie "Brian's Song."

From 1995 to 2003, Fabares played news anchor Christine Armstrong, the wife of football coach Hayden Fox, on "Coach," a performance that garnered two Emmy nominations. A planned 2015 revival of the series would have written her character out, but the project did not advance beyond the pilot. Earlier, she appeared in guest roles on series such as "Mannix," "Mork & Mindy" and "One Day at a Time," and had a recurring part on the satire "Forever Fernwood."

In her personal life, Fabares underwent a liver transplant in 2000 after a two-year wait. She married Farrell after meeting on a 1970 episode of his series "The Interns" and reconnecting during a 1982 press tour. Farrell, a noted human-rights activist, said Fabares brought a lighter side to his public image. The couple remained together until her death.